Secondary or storage battery.



N0. 65|,476. Patented lune l2, I900. 0. T. BUGG, 1R. SECONDARY 0RSTORAGE BATTERY. (Applicatin filed July 1 1, 1899.) (No Model.)

' UNITED STAT S PATENT @FFIcE.

'OlVEN T. BUGG, JR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED STATESBATTERY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SECONDARY OR STORAGE BATTERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,476, dated June 12,1900. Application filed July 11, 1899. I Serial No. 723,459. (No model.)

To aZZ whom. it may concern..-

Be it known that I, OWEN T. BUGG, Jr., a

citizen of the United States, residing at New battery in which thecontaining vessel con- 'stitutes one electrode with a medium in thenature of a heavy oil which prevents local action between the containingvessel and the contained electrode and electrolyte; third, to

so construct the negative or charged electrode for batteries of thecharacter indicated that it presents a maximum surface and that theparts thereof may be readily assembled in the construction thereof, and,fourth, to provide means for preventing the disintegrated parts orpieces of the negative or charged electrode from coming into contactwith the electrode of opposite polarity.

To these ends my invention consists in the novel features illustrated inthe accompany ing drawings, disclosedin the following specification, andparticularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

I have illustrated the essential feature of my invention as applicableto secondary or storage batteries of the lead-zinc type.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1; represents a vertical sectionalview of myv novel battery. Fig. 2 is a part-sectional part sideelevational view of the negative or charged electrode and its sustainingstandard or stem. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the parts which whenassembled constitute the negative or charged electrode, and Fig.4 is atransverse sectional view thereof. Fig. 5 is a top 'planview of theupper portion of the means for sealing or inclosing the battery so thatit will permit the gas to escape and will also act as a means forpreventing the liquid from escaping when the cell is turned on its sideor bottom up. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portionof the cell, taken on aplane at right angles to that upon which Fig. 1is taken, showing more clearly the arrangement of the vent-tubes.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in all of which like letters ofreference represent like parts wherever used, and first to Fig.

1, A represents a metallic or conducting containin g vessel made,preferably, of copper and constituting one pole of the battery, my novelform of battery being of that type in which when two cells are connectedin series one is placed upon top of the other.

B is a sheet of zinc which is first rolled into cylindrical form andthen thoroughly amalgamated and slipped into position within the vesselA. a

C is an insulating-cup made of paper and then paraffined, or it may bemade of glass, hard rubber, or of such material as will withstand theaction of storage-battery liquids.

11 represents the negative or charged electrode, consisting, preferably,of circular lead plates P, which are indented, as shown, on

both sides, said plates having a central opening, as illustrated in Fig.3, adapting them to be strung upon astandard or stem G, made,preferably, of lead and having at its lower end a sustaining-head H.These plates P are separated from each other by lead spacing-washers J,which are slipped into position alternately with said plates,fittingsnugly about the standard or stem G; so that when all of the parts areassembled they constitute, with the standard or stem, a compact rigidelectrode having a large active surface.

M represents a bag made, preferably, of

woolen or other porous'material'and designed to be tied or secured atits upper end about the negative electrode H, its function being toprevent disintegrated particles of the electrode fromcoming into contactwith the zinc -B, thecup O acting also as an additional means forpreventing any particles from offecting such contact in the event oftheir'escaping through the bag M.

F represents a sealing-partition adapted to seal the upper end of thevessel A and having three openings 1, K, and L, the central opening. Ibeing adapted to fit snugly about the upper endof the standard or stemG. Dand IOO E represent additional partitions adapted to be situatedintermediate the partitionF and the electrode 11, as clearly illustratedin Fig. 1. The partition D is beveled at its outer edge, as shown, forthe purpose of receiving when in position a sealing medium Q in thenature of a heavy oil, preferably of what is known by machinists ascylinder-oil. The partitions D, E, and F when in position in the cellare so located that the two larger openings K in each of said partitionsare in alinement with each other for the purpose of receivingafilling-tube K. The partitions D and E are provided with additionalsmaller openings 0, located in alinement with each other, while thepartition F is provided with a similar smallopening L (see Fig. 5)ninety degrees distant from the openings Oand'K, the arrangement beingsuch that when the parts are assembled these openings will not offer adirectpassage to the liquidshonld the vessel be turned upon its side.

S and S representtubes,preferablyof glass,

for-spacing or separating and sustaining the partitions in position.

Vrepresents a cork for sealing the filling-1 tube'i'K.

N represents a metallic contact-button provided with adownwardly-extending sleeve adapted to fit snugly about the upper end ofthestandard or stem G.

Rrepresents the sealingmedium, consisting of any well-knownbattery-cement; such tas-sealing'wax or the like.

. Theseveral parts of the battery areassenr bled as follows: The sheetof zinc B isrolled into cylindrical form and thoroughly amalgamated withmercury in the usual wayyafter which it is slipped into the positionshown.

The cup 0 is then slipped into placeyafter whichthe electrode H;assembled in the manner hereinbeforedescribed, is subjectedto thecharging action of the electrical sou'rce of en- -ergylaud the glasssleeve S'slipped into place 'overthe free end otthesta'ndard orstem G.

Theelectrode is thenslipped into the bag M and the upper end thereofsecurely tied in the mannershown. It is then put into position withinthe cellxand the partitionD forced into plaeeiabout the standard or stemG until it The the partition D is thenfilledrwithaheavy oil,'preferablywhat is known as cylindero'il, after which thepartition E is slippedslipped into place about the standard or stem Gand the last partition Fforced into its position, with the small vent-hole L locatedat tube Kand a corresponding small vent-tube T in the opening L will prevent suchmaterial from passing through the upper partition F and will thusefiectually seal the entire cell. The small vent-tube T in the opening Lshould extend also a slight distance below the lower surface of thepartition F, as shown in dotted lines inFig. 1. Thevcell istnow readyfor transportation, andtheexeitant liquid, preferably dilutedsulfuriewacid or' such materials asare usually used iu con'neetion withlead-zinc? batteries, may be" poured. into the electrode chamber a:through theafillingtube K, after which the corkV isslipped into positionand the upper endbfthe tube K thoroughly sealed with sealing-wax. orother preferred'material. The cellisnowrea'dy for use.

It is obvious that an ypgases :generated in the electrode-chamberbeneath; therpartition D will escape by orl through the venti-holes Oand the correspondin g vent -holeiL: in the upper partition F. Itisalsoz'apparentt-hat by reason of theaugulan location of the ventholes inthe two sets of partitions noliquid will escape to theou tsi'de when the'eell isou its side or turned upside down and that such liquid asdoes'escape into the upper chamber willquickly return to theelectrode-chamber when the vessel is righted.

Should the-cell be turned" upside 'down,1it is obvious that only viasmallquantity of fl-lq nid can escape into" the went-chamber "betweenthe partitionsE- iandF, "as it'cissa wellknown fact that air cannotenterithrough such an opening ,withont'snificient vent. It isalsonapparent thatevensneh liquidiasidoes escape into the ve11t-cha1nber"between the partitions cannot escape from thecell, owing to thedownward extension of the vent-tube 'T in the outer partition F,asillustrated in dotted lines in'Fig. 1.

I have discovered that thewmaterialQ, of any heavy oil which will not 1solidifyratwatn1 ospheric temperatures, such: as lcylinderoil, hasen-especial utility in serving'las an insulator for a secondary-prstorage :battery and that it effectually insulatessa battery insuch'manner that there is no possibility of short circuitvbetweentheelectrodes' through the sealed portion Ethereof, a defect which Ihave had: great difliculty in overcoming; as paraffinppitchpand otherwell-known materials which 'have heretoforeibeen utilized for thispurpose'do not fullyaccomplish the result sought, because they harden atatmospheric temperatures andl permit 1 the usual creeping action to takeplace, so that I claim an especial novelty and utility in the use of aheavy oil, such as cylinder-oil, for this pur pose.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A secondary or storage battery cell provided with sealing-partitionsF and Dlocated in its upper end and having each a vent-opening, thepartition D being beveled at its outer edge so as to provide a groovebetween it and the vessel A, said groove being filled with a heavy oilfor the purpose of preventing local action, substantially as described.

2. A secondary or storage battery cell consistin g of a conductingcontaining vessel constituting one pole thereof, together with apositiveeleotrode contained therein; in combination with a negativeelectrode within the cell, two or more sealing-partitions located in theupper end of the cell and each provided with a vent-opening, saidvent-openings being located out of alinement with each other and one ofsaid partitions being provided with a groove at its outer edge filledwith a heavy oil for the purpose of preventing local action,substantially as described.

3. A secondary or storage battery cell consistin g of a conductingcontaining vessel constituting one pole thereof, together with apositive electrode contained therein; in combination with a negativeelectrode located within the cell, two or more sealing-partitionslocated in the upper end of the cell and each provided with avent-opening, the lower partition being provided with a groove on itsouter edge and a filling ot' a heavy oil; together with an amalgamatedsheet of zinc located within and in electrical contact with the innerwall of the cell, substantially as described.

4. A secondary or storage battery cell consisting of a conductingcontaining vessel con stituting one pole thereof, together with apositive electrode contained therein; a second electrode locatedtherein, two or more sealing-partitions located in the upper end of thecell and separated by definite spaces so as-to divide the cell into twoor more cham bers, each of said sealing-partitions being pro vided withan escape or vent opening, and

the lower one with a groove about its upper outer edge and a filling ofa heavy oil; in

combination with a filling-tube extending through said partitions andmeans for filling said sealing-tube, substantially as described.

5. A secondary or storage battery cell consisting of a conductingcontaining vessel constituting one pole thereof, together with apositive electrode contained therein; in combination with a negativeelectrode and one or more sealing-partitions located in the upper end ofthe cell and adapted to hold the negative electrode in place; togetherwith a sealing medium and vent-openings in the partitions for permittingof the free escape of gas, substantially as described.

6. A secondary or storage battery cell consisting of a conductingcontaining vessel constituting one pole thereof, together with apositive electrode contained therein; a negative electrode and two ormore sealing-partitions located in the upper end of the cell and havingvent-openings, said partitions constituting the means for holding orsecuring the negative electrode in place; in combination with a porousbag which surrounds the nega tive electrode and an insulating-cuplocated beneath the porous bag and resting upon the bottom of theconducting containing vessel, substantially as described.

7. A secondary or storage battery cell consisting ofa conductingcontaining vessel, con stituting one pole thereof, together with apositive electrode contained therein; a negative electrode composed of aconducting standard and a series of perforatedlead or analogous platesseparated from each other by conducting-washers and sustained by saidstandard; together with two or more sealingpartitions located in theupper end of the cell and having vent-openings, a porous bag surroundingthe negative electrode and an insulating-cup located beneath the same,all of said parts acting substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 6th day ofJune, 1899.

OWEN T. BUGG, JR.

\Vitnesses:

O. J. KINTNER, M. F. KEATING.

